Babar Azam refuses half million USD ILT20 contract
The right-handed batter has apparently declined a whopping half million USD ILT20 contract due to issues regarding terms of payment.
Crickate
Babar Azam has been exceptional for all the international teams he has played for. He is considered one of the best batsmen in modern cricket. Therefore, there is always a great deal of curiosity among fans regarding his imminent T20 league appearances.
Following the Pakistan Cricket Board's (PCB) decision to enable its players to participate in the second season of the International League T20 (ILT20), fans were curious as to which team the 28-year-old would play for.
The cricket fans in the United Arab Emirates would have been thrilled to see the Pakistan captain play in the three magnificent stadiums in Dubai, Abu Dhabi, and Sharjah. However, according to reports, Babar may not participate in the second season of ILT20, which is scheduled for January-February 2024. The right-handed batter reportedly deferred a massive ILT20 contract worth half a million dollars due to payment terms and image rights disputes.
According to sources within Pakistani cricket, ILT20 organisers were considering enlisting Babar Azam as a brand ambassador in addition to a player. Instead of participating in ILT20, Babar will play in the Bangladesh Premier League, which is scheduled to commence on 10 January 2024.
Shaheen Shah Afridi is expected to earn the most in ILT20
The Desert Vipers signed Shaheen Shah Afridi to a lucrative three-year contract worth $400,000 plus image rights compensation. Consequently, the left-handed seamer became the highest-paid player in the six-team league. It is interesting to observe that Shaheen's contract contains a unique clause. In the event that a team acquires a player for a higher salary than the Pakistan pacer prior to the third season, Shaheen's salary will automatically increase.
The second season of ILT20 will be contested between January 19 and February 18 of the following year. The organisers hope that the forthcoming season will be "bigger and better" than the inaugural one.
